Sieg rail! Fury over 'Nazi' steam train day out

Distressing: East Lancashire Railway general manager says that staff had been checking costumes (Image: MEN)

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It’s fine for these railway enthusiasts to let off steam... but dressing up as Nazis is possibly a goosestep too far.

Fans re-enacted wartime scenes at a rail festival – with one turning up as Adolf Hitler and another as his henchman Hermann Goering.

Shockingly, a Jewish couple visiting the event claim they were asked if they would dress up as refugees with a Star of David on their chests and “look poor”.

Merton Paul, 65, who was with wife Barbara, said: “It was an innocent question but of course we wouldn’t want to do that. No Jewish person would.”

Organisers at the East Lancashire Railway banned certain Nazi regalia after protests in previous years about the Wartime Weekend in Ramsbottom, Lancs.

(Image: MEN)

The heritage group’s general manager Andy Morris said: “The swastika isn’t banned but we ask people not to wear the more offensive items such as items related to the SS, the death’s head insignia and the Gestapo.”

But Mr Paul added: “It’s worrying they don’t seem embarrassed and some appeared to be strutting about.

"It’s very upsetting and completely disrespectful to the six million Jews who were killed at the hands of the Nazis.”

Local MP David Nuttall said: “I believe the vast majority, if not all, of those taking part do not want to cause offence but one can understand why some people are upset.”